The next morning, October 31, Halloween. The kids are gathering in Mr. Ratburn's class. Buster is seated near the front of the room. Francine enters holding a flying saucer toy, and starts floating it above Buster's head. "Searching for signs of intelligent life, Captain. Still searching... Increasing magnification..."

"Ha, ha," grunts the rabbit boy.

As Francine sits down, Binky enters and starts to give Buster a bad time. "Hey, space cadet. Still watching the sky?"

"You'll be sorry when the aliens reveal all their secrets to me and you're left just as stupid as before," says Buster defiantly.

Binky raises a fist. "Are you callin' me stupid?"

Buster looks nervous for a moment, but then gathers courage and stands up. "Yeah, I'm calling you stupid. What are you gonna do about it? The aliens are gonna land in my back yard, not yours. Because I was the kid who believed in them before anyone else did. And you can clobber me all you want, but it's not gonna change a thing!"

Binky is obviously anxious, but tries his best to look and act mean. "You just signed your own search warrant, rabbit!" he threatens.

"Kids, let's get started," says Mr. Ratburn, prompting Buster and Binky to sit down. "Since today is Halloween, I've invited a special..."

Suddenly the public address speaker crackles, and Mr. Haney's hoarse voice is heard. "May I have your attention, please. The winners of the Lakewood Elementary pumpkin-carving contest have been chosen. In third place, Molly McDonald, fourth grade, and her pumpkin called The Guy Whose...er...Brain Exploded. In second place, Vicki Dent, fourth grade, and her Henry Skreever pumpkin. And our first-place winner is...George Nordgren!"

All the kids turn to George and cheer. "Awright, George! Waytago!"

"George, a student in Mr. Ratburn's third-grade class, crafted a hilarious pumpkin called Aardvarks Are Funny," the principal continues. Arthur gives George a funny look. "All of the pumpkin contest entries will be on display in the center court during morning recess. Many thanks to those who participated. Have a great day...and try not to laugh too much."

The speaker goes silent. Mr. Ratburn has a disappointed look. "That wasn't scary at all," he remarks, and the kids chuckle.

"Congratulations, George," the teacher goes on. "As I was saying, today is Halloween, so I've invited a special guest to teach a lesson on spiders. Please welcome my very own dear sister, Rodentia Ratburn!"

The children groan dejectedly. The classroom door opens and Rodentia enters, dressed in a hairy spider costume. "Hi, kids!" she says sweetly. "I'm a black widow!"

After a lesson on spiders that seems to last forever, the bell finally rings. The kids file out of the classroom, and Brain starts chatting with Fern. "That was the cutest, cuddliest black widow spider I've ever seen," he comments.

"I'd like to squish it," says Fern.

Behind them, Binky grabs Buster by the arm and drags him into a secluded corner. "What did the aliens tell you?" he demands. "Did you see them?"

"Uh...nothing," Buster answers, "except they're gonna land in my back yard. I didn't see them, I only heard their voices."

"Oh, man!" marvels Binky. "Aliens landing in Elwood City! And in my lifetime!"

"So, you gonna join me in the back yard?" Buster asks him.

"Not on your life! I've gotta protect my tough-guy image. But I'll be watching you. Just in case they're hostile, ya know."

"Well...okay."

"Don't tell anybody what I just said, or I'll clobber you. Got it?"

"Loud and clear."

"And if the aliens don't show up, I'll clobber you."

"Uh-huh."

"And if you call me stupid again, I'll clobber you."

"Right."

"I really mean it this time."

"Yeah, sure."

----

Later in the morning, Binky is browsing the pumpkin contest entries. The first-prize blue ribbon sits next to a pumpkin that looks like a demented aardvark with a long nose and a tongue to which real dead ants are stuck. "Hmm...kinda reminds me of someone I know," he muses.

Next to George's pumpkin sits a gruesome entry that looks like a man whose brains are leaking out of the top of his head. Tough girl Molly is standing in front of it. "Molly, you've got the makings of a great artist," Binky complements her.

"Thanks, Binky. I only wish I could have got a hold of some real brains."

At this moment Prunella approaches Binky. "Hey, Binky, got a minute?"

"Yeah, I suppose so," the bulldog boy replies nervously.

Prunella leads him to a bench, where they sit down and talk. "So, how's third grade treating you?"

"Well, I'm getting better grades, but that's only because I've done it all before."

Prunella adopts a serious tone. "I wanted to tell you...you know about the magical stuff I do, right?"

"Yeah."

"And you know that my ancestors are gypsies, right?"

"Uh-huh," says Binky, getting squeamish.

"And when people think about gypsies, they usually think about fortune-telling, and palm-reading, and...and..."

"Uh, curses?"

"Yeah, curses. My mom, and my sister, and me, we never talk about curses. Curses are evil things that hurt people. Even if I wanted to put a curse on someone, I wouldn't know where to start. I never learned how. I only use my powers to help people."

"Really?" says Binky with relief. "Uh, I mean, that's cool."

"And I would never, ever, in a million years, try to put a curse on you, Binky. Even if I did, it would probably bounce right off, because you're so big and strong."

Binky's ego inflates in an almost visible manner. "I am? I mean, yeah, I am!"

"You're such a big, strong boy," Prunella gushes. "All the other kids are afraid to fight you."

"Yeah, they are." Binky sees George walking by, holding a candy bar in one hand, and calls to him. "Hey, George!"

"What?" George responds.

Binky stands up. "I just wanted to congratulate you on winning the pumpkin contest."

"Uh, thanks, Binky," says George, intimidated by the towering boy.

"You're really good with your hands, George," Binky praises him.

"Thanks," says George, who starts to walk away.

"I'm not finished with you yet."

Knowing the routine, George turns and carefully lays his candy bar in Binky's outstretched hand.

"Keep up the good work," the bigger boy encourages him.

As George hurries away, Binky looks back at the bench and notices that Prunella is gone. "Huh?"

The rat girl is walking down the hallway, looking somewhat angry. "Stupid bully. Why does love have to be so blind?"

TBC